A CLINICAL GUIDE TO THE OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE PATIENT IN A BUSY FAMILY-PRACTICE - THE 2-TASK, 4-PROTOTYPE APPROACH IN THESC EHAP INITIATIVE - PART III/

A four-prototype approach to the occupational and environmental medici ne (OEM) patient in a busy primary care setting is described. A 2x2 ta ble illustrates the two diagnostic, interrelated tasks during the outp atient, non-urgent visit: (a) sick? yes/no, and (b) exposed? yes/no. O ne may have the basic skills for task (a) but feel insecure for task ( b). With OEM experience, creative use of resources (databases and cons ultants and patient cooperation, a better balance between task (a) and task (b) can be achieved. The Environmental Medicine Curriculum Commi ttee (EMCC) initiative described in Part I and Part II of this study h as developed this patient-centered model to help the resident in train ing cope as he or she tries to deal with emerging patient concerns fro m the workplace and beyond. In November 1996, an expert panel of consu ltants representing OEM public health, and family medicine endorsed th e prototype OEM patient model for further development.